Singapore has, in recent years, been recognised as a highly attractive market in the world for infrastructure investment.
Microsoft Corp. recently announced a new agreement with Sunseap Group that marks Microsoft’s first clean energy deal in Asia and will create the single-largest solar energy portfolio in Singapore to date.
This 60 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar portfolio will span hundreds of rooftops across the nation. This is the largest rooftop solar project in Singapore and the first rooftop solar portfolio in the country focused on serving datacenter energy consumption.
“Our cloud services are helping to power Singapore’s digital transformation, and today’s agreement will ensure that transformation is increasingly powered by clean energy,” said Kevin Wo, managing director, Microsoft Singapore. He added: “We’re proud to work with Sunseap, the leading solar provider in Singapore, to support the growth of the local clean energy economy. With the agreement, Microsoft will improve the sustainability of our local operations and make important progress toward our corporate sustainability goals for datacenters.”
The investment in local solar energy builds on decades of Microsoft investment in Singapore and throughout the APAC region. Since it began operations in Singapore in 1990, Microsoft has sought to create local opportunity, growth and impact and supports the government’s efforts to make Singapore a smart, green and liveable city. Singapore is also home to Microsoft datacenter services that deliver Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and numerous other cloud services for customers.
Lawrence Wu, co-founder and president of Sunseap, said, “We see exciting potential in our partnership with Microsoft to raise awareness within the tech industry of the importance of adopting renewable energy solutions. Their investment in Singapore solar indicates a growing momentum for clean energy in the country and will further the positive ripple effect for organizations in Singapore to incorporate sustainability practices in their businesses.”
Through a 20-year agreement, Microsoft will purchase 100 percent of the renewable energy attributes exported to the grid. This landmark agreement also marks progress for Singapore in the renewables sector. The agreement also solidifies Sunseap’s unique position in the energy markets.
“This deal is Microsoft’s first renewable energy deal in Asia, and is our following two wind deals announced in Ireland and The Netherlands in 2017,” said Christian Belady, general manager, Cloud Infrastructure Strategy and Architecture, Microsoft. “We’re on track to exceed our goal of powering 50 percent of our global datacenter load with renewable energy this year. Once operational, the new solar project will bring Microsoft’s total global direct procurement in renewable energy projects to 860 megawatts.”
HVACR Vietnam is excited to be hosting its latest edition in Hanoi, after 11 previous editions in Ho Chi Minh City.
Local & International Exhibitors This year, the event will also welcome international exhibitors from countries like China, India, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and the USA. Additionally, there will be international pavilions from China, South Korea, and Taiwan at this year’s HVACR Vietnam.
Gearing Up To Go Green HVACR Vietnam is proud to introduce a strong green theme in this year’s exhibition, featuring collaborations with industry experts, as well as a series of complimentary professional seminars on green HVACR technologies and systems.
Mr Park Byung-Hun, Secretary General of the Korea Building Energy Management System Association (KBEMSA) which has set up a pavilion at this year’s exhibition, said: “Our association was established to contribute to the development of high efficiency and green buildings through the development of ‘building energy management technology’, which integrates construction technology, ICT technology and energy management technology, as well as systematic management of building energy facilities. HVACR Vietnam 2018 is especially important to us, given the rising global attention on energy efficiency, and the emphasis of this year’s exhibition on showcasing the related technologies.”
Complimentary Power-Packed Professional Seminars Throughout the three-day exhibition, a series of complimentary HVACR and Green Building seminars and technical talks will be held, hosted by HVACR Vietnam organisers as well as its partners the Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC), and Vietnam Energy Efficiency Network (EEN-Vietnam).
New B2B Online Meeting System As a value-add to their esteemed exhibitors and buyers, the organisers of HVACR Vietnam 2018 will be launching a B2B Online Meeting System, where both parties will be able to make appointments online before the show, and then conduct the one-to-one business meetings during the three-day show.
The exhibitors and buyers will be able to find potential clients, locate investment opportunities, forge lucrative partnerships, broaden their business network, as well as share and exchange knowledge. This complimentary service is available to buyers from Hanoi and other Vietnamese cities; the organisers now invite interested buyers to register for this service at www.hvacrseries.com/vietnam, where they will then receive a curated list of participants based on their interests and a human concierge will be available to help maximise the attendance value.
The 4th edition of BuildTech Yangon concluded on 20 May 2017 after three days of industry discussions, international dialogues, commercial engagements and knowledge sharing in Myanmar. Organised by Sphere Exhibits, a subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and co-organised by the Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association (MCEA), BuildTech Yangon 2017 is the leading industry event focusing on the value chain for the build environment sector in Myanmar.
Graced by the Guest of Honour, U Zaw Aye Maung, Minister of Ethnic Affairs, Ministry Yangon Region Government, BuildTech Yangon 2017 focused on green buildings, key solutions and technologies, redefining Myanmar’s building and construction sector. Attended by high profile delegates, dignitaries and key decision makers, the event took a focused approach in addressing key policies in the country’s city development.
Advancing the Green Building Network in Myanmar A highlight this year was the inaugural Green Building Conference, an innovative two- day event designed to help nurture sustainable and green development whilst fostering the formation of a National Green Building Council in Myanmar.
The World Green Building Council (WGBC) participated in BuildTech Yangon for the first time this year, supported by the Singapore Green Building Council, the country’s representative to the eminent international group. WGBC held several meetings with local industry associations to discuss the development and nurturing of Myanmar’s green building movement.
Delegates to the Green Building Conference had access to sessions on a range of topics that included cases studies on recent green projects and introductions to green buildings and green architecture. Panel discussions with a wide range of experts on the topics of Regulations, Certifications & Policies Building and Housing adapted to Climate Change and Innovative Solutions towards a Greener Yangon were well received.
Dr. Swe Swe Aye, Chairman of the Green Building Committee, Building Engineers Institute of Myanmar and co-organiser of the Green Building Conference, said: “The inaugural Green Building Conference was a tremendous success, and we are thankful for the experts in green building construction who took time from their busy schedules. The Green Building Committee and Building Engineering Institute welcome the opportunity to be able to collaborate closely with local and regional green building experts and authorities in the region.”
Delegates and visitors also saw the latest in green technologies and sustainable and energy efficient solutions at the Green Pavilion. Participating companies from China, India, Italy, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand showcased a wide array of innovative products, solutions, and materials on the trade floor.
Mr. Ryo Lau K.S, Sales Engineer of Master Wire Cable Sdn Bhd said, “As a Malaysian company that has taken the plunge to explore opportunities, we have identified a gap in the manufacturing and supply of cables in Myanmar. There is a vast potential in Yangon as the city expands its infrastructure and building construction capabilities and needs. We are happy to have obtained good sales leads at the trade show.”
Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association (MCEA) and the Singapore Institute of Building Limited (SIBL) was renewed to further extend their collaboration in advancing the industry. I&H Engineering Co., a joint venture between the Myanmar Ministry of Construction and I&H Asia Pacific, launched their new factory located just outside of Yangon, while trade missions from across the region held closed-door networking sessions.
Championing Industry Leaders Mg Mya Hnin Bi from THS Construction was the winner of this year’s highly anticipated brick laying competition, which featured a live assembly of a set prototype of a model building. The national competition saw 20 companies competing to win the accolades, and spurring improvements in brick layer techniques and skillsets in the local construction sector.
The objective of this national competition aimed to increase the skill level of workers in the industry as well as to incentivise award winners to further their skills in similar international brick laying competitions. Brick laying is an important and essential skill that is much-needed in the construction industry. Competitions such as this will encourage workers to sign up to bricklaying courses in Myanmar’s effort to stay ahead.
Some 1,000 guests also came together for the MCEA annual gala which took place on 19 May 2017. Awards, jointly presented by MCEA and Sphere Exhibits, were given to young construction entrepreneurs for their exemplary contributions to the industry and community. They included Diamond, Gold and Silver Awards for the Best Contractors and Best Projects, and individual accolades for MCEA’s Man of the Year and the Builder of the Year Award.
Working in green-certified buildings was associated with higher cognitive function scores, fewer sick building symptoms and higher sleep quality scores.
Considering all the time we spend at work, have you ever wondered if the building you are working in is healthy? Or, could make you think better, or be more productive?
Researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and SUNY Upstate Medical University didn’t just wonder, they set out to answer those questions. Studying 109 workers at 10 buildings in 5 cities across the U.S., they discovered that working in green-certified buildings was associated with higher cognitive function scores, fewer sick building symptoms and higher sleep quality scores.
The study builds on the team’s 2015 COGfx Study– COGfx is shorthand for your brain’s cognitive function – which found significantly higher cognitive function test scores for office workers in a simulated green building environment with enhanced ventilation compared to a conventional building environment.
In the new study, presented pre-publication at the U.S. Green Building Council’s annual Greenbuild conference in L.A., employees in high-performing, green-certified buildings had 26 percent higher cognitive function test scores than those in similarly high-performing buildings that were not green certified, even after controlling for other potential explanatory factors. Among the findings, participants had:
73 percent higher crisis response scores
44 percent higher applied activity level scores, which reflect ability to gear decision- making toward overall goals
38 percent higher focused activity level scores, which reflect capacity to pay attention to tasks at hand
31 percent higher strategy scores
In addition to these statistically significant findings, the study also found that employees reported 30 percent fewer sick building symptoms and had 6 percent higher sleep quality scores compared to those working in high-performing buildings that were not green-certified, indicating that benefits of green buildings may extend beyond the workday.
“Certified green buildings not only deliver environmental benefits, they can have positive impacts on the productivity and thinking of the people in those buildings. That’s a powerful combination that can accelerate the green building movement globally,” said John Mandyck, Chief Sustainability Officer, United Technologies.
Based on their latest findings, the research team believes a holistic approach is needed. “We’re advocating for what we call Buildingomics – a new approach that examines the totality of factors in the building-related environment,” said Dr. Joseph Allen, Assistant Professor of Exposure Assessment Science at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Director of the Healthy Buildings Program at the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Chan School, and Principal Investigator for the study.
“Through Buildingomics’ multi-disciplinary approach, we aim to better understand the factors that influence health in buildings and unlock the ability to optimise buildings for improved cognitive function and health,” said Dr. Allen.
The full report – “The Impact of Working in a Green Certified Building on Cognitive Function and Health” – will be made available HERE and HERE.
Follow the discussion on Twitter using #TheCOGfxStudy.
We know green buildings conserve natural resources, minimize environmental impacts and improve the indoor environment, but do you know it can also positively affect your cognitive performance? A recent study reveals it all.
The study was conducted at the Total Indoor Environmental Quality Laboratory at the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Syracuse, New York.
SINGAPORE — Improved indoor environmental quality doubled participants’ scores on cognitive function tests, according to a new study by researchers at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Center for Health and the Global Environment, SUNY Upstate Medical University and Syracuse University . The study was released in Singapore on December 4, 2015 . Primary support for the study came from United Technologies (NYSE: UTX) and its UTC Climate, Controls & Security business.
“The Impact of Green Buildings on Cognitive Function” study found that employees’ cognitive performance scores averaged 101 per cent higher in green building environments with enhanced ventilation compared to a conventional building environment.
“When it comes to the decision-making ability of green building occupants, intelligence is in the air,” said John Mandyck , United Technologies Chief Sustainability Officer. “We know green buildings conserve natural resources, minimize environmental impacts and improve the indoor environment, but these results show they can also become important human resource tools for all indoor environments where cognitive abilities are critical to productivity, learning and safety.
“The payback for improved indoor environmental quality far outweighs the investment, considering that more than 90 per cent of the costs associated with a building are related to the people who work within it once construction is completed,” he added.
Study participants’ cognitive function was measured daily within the environmentally controlled space at the Total Indoor Environmental Quality Laboratory at the Syracuse Center of Excellence.
“The results of this study signal that we should place equal importance on the improved indoor air quality provided by green buildings, not only for health reasons, but also to improve cognitive function and productivity,” said Tan Boon Kuan , group general manager, Carrier Singapore.
The double-blind study evaluated the cognitive performance of 24 participants who experienced conditions in a laboratory setting that simulate those found in conventional and green buildings, as well as green buildings with enhanced ventilation. Researchers measured cognitive function for nine functional domains, including basic, applied and focused activity levels; task orientation; crisis response; information seeking; information usage; breadth of approach; and strategy.
The largest improvements in cognitive function test scores occurred in the areas of crisis response, information usage and strategy.
Crisis response scores were 97 percent higher for the green environment and 131 percent higher for the green environment with enhanced ventilation and lower carbon dioxide levels compared to the conventional environment.
Information usage scores for green and enhanced green environments were 172 and 299 percent higher than in the conventional environment, respectively.
For strategy, green and enhanced green scores were 183 and 288 percent higher than the conventional environment.
Scientists controlled indoor environmental quality to simulate conventional and green building conditions.
The Center for Health and the Global Environment at the Harvard Chan School and SUNY Upstate Medical are launching a second phase of research, which will move from the lab into real buildings across the United States . This research will also be supported by a gift from United Technologies.
The 11th edition of Eco Expo Asia takes place at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong from 26-29 October, with the theme being “Green Solutions for a Changing Climate”. The expo is organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. The Environment Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is the co-host, underscoring the HKSAR government’s commitment to environmental protection. The emphasis is very much on ground-breaking technologies, smart and innovative products. In 2015, the exhibits covered the full spectrum of environmental initiatives with 320 exhibitors presenting a global overview. More than 12,000 buyers from 97 countries and regions attended the fair.
Asia is home to the world’s fastest growing cities. With the region’s increasing urbanisation, the global search for urban design, landscaping and greenery to create spaces that are conducive for work, live and play has never been more pressing. GreenUrbanScape Asia serves as a platform for policy makers, property developers, landscape architects and contractors, consultants and engineers, service providers and others, to exchange knowledge on latest greenery and urban design methods and evaluate current cutting edge solutions and technology. The exhibition is complemented by the International Skyrise Greenery Conference, which is expected to draw over 700 top level delegates from Asia.
Sign up here to get early bird rates on exhibition space!
Following its success at the 2014 show, the 8th Shanghai Intelligent Building Technology will continue its goal of providing a top regional platform for China’s rapidly growing intelligent building market focusing on the three core themes currently highest in demand across East China: Building Efficiency, Intelligent Cities and Smart Homes. Once again, the show will be jointly organised by Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade – Shanghai Pudong Sub-Council and Shanghai Hongshan Exhibition Service Co Ltd.
Three Thematic Zones: “Building Efficiency, Energy Management & Building Automation Zone”, “Data Centre and Generic Cabling Zone” and the newly launched “Home Technology Zone” are highlighted in the 2015 show. Together with a series of influential seminar programme, SIBT offer exhibitors an ideal platform to explore business opportunities and to network with targeted trade buyers, industry players and professionals.
Together with an array of influential must-attend seminar events, it provides the latest building technologies and solutions as well as creates an unparalleled networking opportunity for the professional, enterprise leaders, industry players and authority representatives.
Green Building & retrofits (GBR) Expo Asia 2015, the 5th international Exhibition & Conference on Green Building & Retrofits held in Thailand for the Asia Market. There will be showing case of new technology of products, services and solution for green building and retrofits. The leading exhibition which expect more than 10,000 of trade visitors from the building & construction and facilities professionals during 17-19 September 2015, IMPACT Exhibition Center, Hall 3 Bangkok, Thailand
Alongside with GBR Expo Asia 2015, various activities from Conferences such as Thailand Green Building Conference and Facilities Management Conference, Technical Industry Seminars, International Certification Courses, Thai Green Building Tour, Business Meeting & Networking Night, New Product & Innovations Showcase, Country Pavilions, Job Center, Education Hub, Green Building clinic and many more will be running parallel with the exhibition to ensure the highest quality of visitors attending to the show.
GBR Expo Asia 2015 also being co-located with BMAM Expo Asia 2015 – The 8th International exhibition and conference on Building maintenance & Facilities management and Thai Clean Pavilion – Thai Cleaning Industry Expo, enhancing the value to both exhibitors and visitors of the show with the synergy of profiles ranging from Facility Management, Building Maintenance, Green Building & Retrofits and Cleaning & Hygiene.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) is perhaps the first thing that comes to people’s minds on the subject of clean renewable energy. PV technologies convert energy from sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. They provide an ideal sustainable energy solution for remote rural areas, where it is neither technically feasible nor economically viable to extend grid coverage to isolated areas. However, in developed urban cities, it is common to find PV systems installed in buildings and on rooftops as well.
Globally, PV demand has been on an upward trend. Especially in recent years, the demand accelerated as the price of the commonly-used PV material – crystalline silicon – took a plunge from $4/watt in 2008 to $2/watt in 2010. Today, it even costs less than $1/watt, and observers foresee that the prices will fall further. The sharp drop in prices is largely due to innovations in PV technologies and manufacturing automation. This price movement stands in contrast with the rising cost of electricity as fuels are being depleted.
The growing preference for choosing sustainable solutions has also egged on the PV market. This is due to a combination of reasons such as the on-going global struggle to reduce carbon emissions, government incentives, schemes to encourage green building, and higher capital value for buildings with green certification.
An Overview of PV Technology
In general, PV materials are mainly categorized as crystalline silicon(c-Si) or thin film. They are judged on two basic factors – efficiency and economics – to determine which application is best. These materials are further subdivided into different categories which provide different efficiencies.
Crystalline silicon (c-Si)
Monocrystalline silicon Panel
Multicrystalline silicon Panel
For remote installations where the space available for PV panels is often quite limited, the greater conversion efficiency of c-Si technology has the advantage. C-Si modules represent 85-90% of the global annual market today.
C-Si modules are subdivided into two main categories: single crystalline silicon (Sc-Si) and multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si). Sc-Si panels should be used when a higher voltage is desirable. This would be when the DC power has to travel some distance before being utilized or stored in a battery bank. These panels are also the most efficient in PV technology, averaging 14% to 17% efficiency. In comparison, mc-Si panels have efficiencies of 12% to 14% but they can often be purchased at a lower cost per watt than sc-Si panels.
Thin film technology
While thin film panels are cheaper than c-Si panels, it is worth noting that the conversion efficiency of thin-film panels is lower and tends to drop off rather rapidly in the first few years of operation.
Thin films are subdivided into three main families: amorphous (a-Si), Cadmium-Telluride (CdTe), and Copper-Indium-Gallium-Selenide (CIS/CIGS). Depending on the technology, thin-film module prototypes have reached efficiencies of between 7–13% and production modules operate at about 9%. Performance deterioration must be taken into account when assessing the array for a multi-year project. However, there are still applications where the lighter weight and greater flexibility of the thin-film panels may be more suitable. Thin films currently account for 10% to 15% of global PV module sales.
Types of PV Systems
There are different types of systems in which the PV modules are integrated. Solar PV systems are mainly divided into grid-connected / grid-tie systems and off-grid / stand-alone systems.
For grid-connected systems, the PV system operates in parallel with the public electricity network. In general, most of the PV systems installed in developed countries are grid-connected.
If connection to the grid is not possible, or if there are no electricity mains, then the PV systems are installed as stand-alone systems.
Thin film technology
While thin film panels are cheaper than c-Si panels, it is worth noting that the conversion efficiency of thin-film panels is lower and tends to drop off rather rapidly in the first few years of operation.
Thin films are subdivided into three main families: amorphous (a-Si), Cadmium-Telluride (CdTe), and Copper-Indium-Gallium-Selenide (CIS/CIGS). Depending on the technology, thin-film module prototypes have reached efficiencies of between 7–13% and production modules operate at about 9%. Performance deterioration must be taken into account when assessing the array for a multi-year project. However, there are still applications where the lighter weight and greater flexibility of the thin-film panels may be more suitable. Thin films currently account for 10% to 15% of global PV module sales.
Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) System
Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is the integration of PV into the building envelope (eg. windows, walls, or roof tiles etc). It allows for seamless integration into a building’s design. BIPV products work particularly well for new building construction or a significant remodeling. The PV modules serve the dual function of being the building skin – replacing conventional building envelope materials – and power generator.
BIPV systems should be adopted where there is energy-conscious design, and where equipment and systems have been carefully selected and specified. They should be viewed in terms of life-cycle cost, and not just initial, first-cost. The overall cost may be reduced by the displacement of inefficient building materials and labor. Design considerations for BIPV systems must include the building’s use, its electrical loads, its location and orientation, the appropriate building and safety codes, and the relevant utility issues and costs. However, as BIPV panels are made for both photovoltaic and thermal collection systems, designers often place both technologies side-by-side to further maximize efficiencies.
Evolution of PV Demands
According to a report[1] “A Snapshot of Global PV 1992-2013” by International Energy Agency (IEA), preliminary market data shows that there is a growing market in 2013, for the first time in two years. At least 36.9 GW of PV systems have been installed and connected to the grid in the world last year. While these data will have to be confirmed in the coming months, some important trends can already be discerned:
The global PV market grew to at least 36.9 GW in 2013, compared to around 29 GW in the last two years.
Asia ranks in first place in 2013 with more than 59% of the global PV market.
The market in Europe has decreased significantly from 22 GW in 2011 to 17 GW in 2012 and 10.3 GW in 2013. For the first time since 2003 Europe is no longer the top PV market in the world.
The Asian markets experienced the highest growth (+170%) and China took first place (with an estimated 11.3 GW of grid connected PV systems), ahead of Japan (6.9 GW1) and the USA (4.75 GW). The first European country ranked fourth, with 3.3 GW installed is Germany.
In the top 10 countries, 4 are Asia-Pacific countries (China, Japan, India, Australia)
“Asia ranks in first place in 2013 with more than 59% of the global PV market.”
The top 10 global PV markets alone accounted for over 80% of end-market demand in 2013. Looking at last year’s growth rates of these countries in 2013, it shows a distinct trend that end-market demand is shifting away from Europe and towards Asia. In fact, the three fastest growing markets in 2013 were Japan, China, and Thailand, each more than doubling their end-market demand levels over the previous year. Conversely, three of the top European markets saw end-market levels decline in 2013, with only the United Kingdom showing growth.
Top 10 global PV markets of end-market demand in 2013 (Figure by NDP Solarbuzz – Marketbuzz 2014 report[2])
While Europe still represents a major part of all installations globally, Asia’s demand started to grow rapidly in 2012 and this growth was confirmed in 2013. It reached 59% of 2013 installations while Europe went down from 82% in 2010 to 28% in 2013.
China has announced the installation of 11.3 GW of grid-connected PV in 2013. According to Chinese figures, the installations could have been even higher than that but some uncertainty remains on whether these additional PV systems have been connected to the grid or not. In any case, Chinese PV installations have set a new record in terms of new installations, above the 9.3 GW reported in Italy in 2011. This performance is in line with the ambitions of the Chinese authorities to continue developing the internal PV market, pushing for 35 GW by the year 2015 and 100 GW by 2020.
Japan was the second market for PV in 2013 with an estimated 6.9 GW of PV installations. While final numbers could slightly differ, this shows a dramatic increase in both countries compared to 2012.
In Asia, after the two market leaders, Thailand continued to grow, with 317 MW installed in 2013 and 704 MW of total capacity. Other markets continued to grow at a slower rate, such as Taiwan (170 MW), Malaysia for the second year of its feed-in tariff system (42 MW), as well as a few others.
HVACR Vietnam is excited to be hosting its latest edition in Hanoi, after 11 previous editions in Ho Chi Minh City.
The 4th edition of BuildTech Yangon concluded on 20 May 2017 after three days of industry discussions, international dialogues, commercial engagements and knowledge sharing in Myanmar. Organised by Sphere Exhibits, a subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and co-organised by the Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association (MCEA), BuildTech Yangon 2017 is the leading industry event focusing on the value chain for the build environment sector in Myanmar.
Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association (MCEA) and the Singapore Institute of Building Limited (SIBL) was renewed to further extend their collaboration in advancing the industry. I&H Engineering Co., a joint venture between the Myanmar Ministry of Construction and I&H Asia Pacific, launched their new factory located just outside of Yangon, while trade missions from across the region held closed-door networking sessions.
![Top 10 global PV markets of end-market demand in 2013 (Figure by NDP Solarbuzz – Marketbuzz 2014 report[2])](https://brj.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/graph.png)